Politics is about people. Trying to inspire a movement for change for good in any organisation is therefore a political act. This has been my focus recently in two organisations of which I am a part. First, City Hindus Network, as Chairman. And Second, Department for International Trade, for whom I am a Dealmaker.
How do I, in what I do, make the biggest useful, valuable impact and contribution? At the same time I have hired people to help me. Its clear skills needed in the Covid world are often lacking. We need people who can execute not just sit back and throw ideas. People who can deliver, come up with solutions and implement them. People who have the full stack of skills from idea to marketing delivery.
These people I have discovered are rare. It’s easier to find gold on the street than such people. So I decided we must train, enable, empower, skill them too.
With City Hindus Network we’ve had a revolution. From a dead organisation when I took over, we now have weekly events (at least two), we promote these on social media daily, and a weekly newsletter. Silence is not an option if you have belief.
We’ve launched City Hindus Voice – where we show you how to produce your own TV show, find the guest, produce the video, find the topic, be interesting, engaging. We want to empower and upskill City Hindus to use their voice. Not just bump around quietly counting their incomes. These skills have become life skills, work skills for the 21st century.
We’ve launched a City Hindus Career Clinic – with advice and Q&A webinars from people from JP Morgan, Cabinet Office, lawyers – City Professionals for City Professionals.
We’ve launched the ‘Elevator’ where in a series of interviews we showcase those in our community who have elevated themselves and others, offering inspiration to uplift.
It is not enough to do webinars and zoom calls. There is too much heat not enough light in the world. We need in all organisations, whether City Hindus – ie community organisations, or Government bodies, inspiring movements. Things which get us passionate and out of bed and raise up the bar for all. But also empower others how to do it.
This paper is but one outlet which proves that you can just be a newspaper, or you can choose to be a campaign, a movement, something for change. It doesn’t need special access or privilege. It needs execution and delivery and thought. Not just ideas but implementation.
And until it inspires you – it won’t inspire anyone else. That is how winning in team sports is done. And politics is a team sport and everything is politics.
I hope you will be a City Hindu Voice – see our site to learn how to be Michael Parkinson – you even get taught by me, a professional TV presenter – so who knows, may see you on the BBC!
Alpesh Patel
Chairman, Cityhindus.org
